What We Are Doing: Proven research shows that patients who take a beta blocker medication are less likely to suffer a heart attack during or right after surgery if they take their usual dose. We ask all of our patients about their home medications and document when the last time the medication was taken. All patients are instructed to take their usual heart or blood pressure medications before surgery. If, by chance, the patient did not take this medication, then, they are given their normal dosage before surgery.